January 3, 2005

SALEM, Va.—The Hobart basketball team overcame a 10-point deficit in the final three minutes of regulation to force overtime, but the Statesmen fell to host Roanoke College 72-62 in the first round of the 12th Annual V Foundation Classic. Hobart will face Worcester State College in the consolation game at 5 p.m., on Jan. 4.

Facing a 60-50 deficit with 2:44 remaining, the Statesmen outscored the Maroons 11-1 down the stretch. First-year forward Dan O’Grady (St. Dominic’s/East Norwich, N.Y.) tipped in the game-tying bucket with 0.8 seconds to go. He finished with a career-high 12 points off the bench.

In the extra session, Roanoke scored the first five points, and held Hobart without a field goal to secure the 10-point victory.

Both teams struggled in the opening 20 minutes. Hobart (3-4) shot just 24.3 percent from the floor (31.1 for the game), while Roanoke (4-5) was only marginally better, converting 33.3 percent (36.7). The Maroons took a two-point advantage, 25-23, into the locker room at the break. Junior guard Adam Frederic (Holy Cross/Flushing, N.Y.) was the leading scorer at intermission with 11 of his game-high 15 points. He also grabbed nine boards.

Sophomore forward Mike Mastro (Jericho/Westbury, N.Y.) added 14 points and nine rebounds for Hobart, while classmate Mike Manning (Mastic/Center Moriches, N.Y.) contributed 10 points and seven boards.

Junior guard Jared Butler (West Springfield/Springfield, Va.) paced Roanoke with 14 points.